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Deon Bush | Safety

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Bush (6'0/199) made 32 starts in the Hurricanes' secondary, earning third-team All-ACC honors as a senior and finishing his career with nine forced fumbles and four INTs. Bush showed okay-not-great athleticism at the Combine, running 4.64 with a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump. Bush's biggest flaw is his lack of hip fluidity, which will limit him to special teams and/or a box safety role if he eventually makes a run at snaps. Apr 30 - 1:29 PM

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco wrote that Miami S Deon Bush "would be worth a look in the later rounds."

"There was some talk [Bush] could be a Day Two pick heading into this season. But he didn't play as well in 2015," Prisco noted. "He is a big hitter who often goes for the kill shot, which is a habit he has to change." Last season, he recorded 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), a sack and an interception. The analyst might not be a fan of Bush's occasionally overaggressive ways, but he does like his size (6-foot, 199 pounds) and the lateral movement skills displayed on tape. Apr 25 - 10:40 PM

An AFC North scout says Miami S Deon Bush had "horrific" game film in 2015.

The scout went on to label Bush's performance against Florida State "a disaster." That said, the scout believes he could be a mid-rounder with special teams value and potential as an in-the-box safety. NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares Bush to Mo Alexander. He's a bit more forgiving than the scout, but not by much, indicating that prospect's size/speed combo will attract some teams. While Zierlein agrees he could be a solid special teamer, he says Bush is too stiff in coverage to be trusted in that aspect of the game at this time. Mar 7 - 3:15 PM

No surprise that Bush could hold his own against tight ends, as one of his best attributes is his ability to cover across the middle of the field. This past season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound defender recorded 50 tackles (three for loss), a sack, an interception and six passes defended. While he failed to force a fumble, he had a whopping five punched out in 2014. Heading into the Shrine Game practice week, TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline made a bold comparison, noting that Bush's "size/speed numbers are similar to former Hurricane star Ed Reed." Jan 23 - 2:10 PM

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CBS Sports' Pete Prisco wrote that Miami S Deon Bush "would be worth a look in the later rounds."

"There was some talk [Bush] could be a Day Two pick heading into this season. But he didn't play as well in 2015," Prisco noted. "He is a big hitter who often goes for the kill shot, which is a habit he has to change." Last season, he recorded 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), a sack and an interception. The analyst might not be a fan of Bush's occasionally overaggressive ways, but he does like his size (6-foot, 199 pounds) and the lateral movement skills displayed on tape.

An AFC North scout says Miami S Deon Bush had "horrific" game film in 2015.

The scout went on to label Bush's performance against Florida State "a disaster." That said, the scout believes he could be a mid-rounder with special teams value and potential as an in-the-box safety. NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares Bush to Mo Alexander. He's a bit more forgiving than the scout, but not by much, indicating that prospect's size/speed combo will attract some teams. While Zierlein agrees he could be a solid special teamer, he says Bush is too stiff in coverage to be trusted in that aspect of the game at this time.

No surprise that Bush could hold his own against tight ends, as one of his best attributes is his ability to cover across the middle of the field. This past season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound defender recorded 50 tackles (three for loss), a sack, an interception and six passes defended. While he failed to force a fumble, he had a whopping five punched out in 2014. Heading into the Shrine Game practice week, TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline made a bold comparison, noting that Bush's "size/speed numbers are similar to former Hurricane star Ed Reed."

If you've ever wondered what keeps Pauline up at night, you've now got your answer. "He’s an explosive run defender who does a terrific job covering receivers over the middle of the field and his size/speed numbers are similar to former Hurricane star Ed Reed," Pauline wrote. "But questions linger; can Bush play over the slot receiver or is he a liability in man coverage? The latter suppresses his draft stock but the former will result in a move up boards." The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder posted a 4.53 40-yard dash for scouts over the spring. He's in front of them as we speak at Shrine Game practices. "The one-on-one drills, where Bush lines up more like a cornerback rather than a safety, will help answer the question and the East receivers, who Bush will be practicing against all week, include significant next level talent, albeit late round picks," Pauline wrote.

An AFC exec said in October that Bush is a "big dude and good athlete who will hit you." Bush is regarded as a mid-rounder despite great measurables because of average ball skills and poor durability. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder posted a 4.53 40-yard dash for scouts over the spring. "He's a solid-sized safety with athletic ability, good speed, and he can match up with backs, tight ends and some receivers," an AFC college director said. "But that injury history is a concern."

An AFC exec said Miami senior S Deon Bush is a "big dude and good athlete who will hit you."

The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder posted a 4.53 40-yard dash for scouts over the spring. Bush is regarded as a mid-round prospect despite his measurables because of his average ball skills and his lack of durability. "He's a solid-sized safety with athletic ability, good speed, and he can match up with backs, tight ends and some receivers," an AFC college director said. "But that injury history is a concern." On the issue of ball skills, Bush gets a chance to rewrite the narrative against Clemson on Saturday when he faces off against sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson and a merry band of athletic receivers.

Miami head coach Al Golden said senior S Deon Bush will likely see some time at CB this season.

"We'll treat him like [Ladarius] Gunter" last year, Golden told reporters. Gunter signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent, and his lack of athleticism was likely the focal reason teams passed on him. Bush could see time outside and inside in the slot.

Miami senior S Deon Bush was "absolutely great for a true freshman in 2012 but took a step back as a sophomore, with injuries part of the problem," writes ESPN's Mel Kiper.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bush posted 53 tackles, five forced fumbles, four TFL, two sacks, five passes defended and two interceptions as a junior. "Last year he made a leap and showed more of the all-field game you want out of a free safety," Kiper wrote. The analyst ranks Bush as the No. 3 senior safety prospect in the country.

Miami senior S Deon Bush "has had an up-and-down career" but is still the ninth-best safety in the nation, according to Sports on Earth's Matt Brown.

"While he can be beat in man coverage, he's a physical player with explosive straight-line speed, all of which will be even more important this year with the holes the Canes have to fill in front of him in the front seven," Brown wrote. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bush recorded 53 tackles, five forced fumbles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 5 passes defended and 2 interceptions as a junior.

NFL Media draft analyst Chad Reuter believes Miami senior S Deon Bush will become the first Hurricane safety drafted since Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips went in the first round in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

"The Miami native should join the aforementioned 'U' talents as a first-round pick if he continues to separate the ball from its owner (five forced fumbles last season) and increase his other production (had career highs of 53 tackles, four for loss, and three interceptions in 2014)," Reuter wrote. The analyst praised the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bush's range and cage rattling hits. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler wrote earlier in the day that Bush must improve his "route recognition in coverage and his break down skills while in motion vs. the run."

Miami senior S Deon Bush is a "terrific athlete with the required length, physicality and ballskills for the safety position at the NFL level," CBS Sports' Dane Brugler observes.

"A tall, rangy defensive back, Bush is a terrific athlete with the required length, physicality and ballskills for the safety position at the NFL level. He is used all over the Hurricanes' defense, giving scouts an opportunity to evaluate him as a blitzer, in run support and single high in coverage," Brugler wrote. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bush recorded 53 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, with five passes defended and two interceptions as a junior. Brugler adds that Bush needs to "improve his route recognition in coverage and his break down skills while in motion vs. the run, but the attitude and base traits have attracted NFL attention."

Miami senior S Deon Bush is "a versatile athlete who simply needs to show more consistency in his senior season to ensure he’ll be one of the more coveted free safeties on teams’ draft boards," wrote ESPN's David Hale.

Bush finally broke out in 2014, recording 53 tackles, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Bush is a former ESPN 150 prospect. He's struggled staying healthy over the past few years, so draftniks will want to monitor his durability this fall.

Miami junior S Deon Bush (hamstring) and junior WR Herb Waters (neck) have both been ruled out for the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh Saturday.

The Hurricanes' weekly injury report confirmed the news. Bush will miss his second straight game with a hamstring issue, originally suffering the injury against FSU. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Bush's two interceptions are tied for the team lead.